204 years ago today, Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood died off Port Mahon, on board of HMS Ville de Paris. Here’s what the “Annals of the Wars of the 19th Century. Vol. III” had to say on the matter. I find the comparison of Nelson and Collingwood to Saul and Jonathan most intriguing…!

You can read an extensive extract by clicking on the picture below.

Today’s picture can be shared with you thanks to the generosity of our dearest Volgivagant; who of us would not have loved to sail on the good ship “Collingwood” – with a figurehead like this?

In honour of our dear admiral – and his beloved Bounce! – we’ve made a donation to rescue four dogs from Romania, who are already on their way to new, loving homes.

This is my favourite contribution, though. It’s so lovely to see Morpeth and put faces to names.

In other news, Bounce was mentioned on Reddit. Quite clearly, this is the end of the world as we know it.

Having just returned from a trip to very northern shores in the wee hours of Trafalgar Day and not being in a very awake state (two words: fig vodka), I still managed to raise my glass for a toast to Admiral Collingwood, alas with a glass of vanilla-croissant-scented liquor. The alternative was cherry rum, so I hope you’ll forgive me. Next year, I hope I’ll manage something more dignified…

Needless to say, my membership fee is already on its way to the Collingwood Society.Not only does this give me the satisfaction of knowing that I support a great cause, no, I can also scare my friends by telling them that I’ve joined a fan club. Hah!

Important: Those of you who, like me, live in countries where cheques aren’t used (anymore), can send me a mail on joyful_molly at yahoo.co.uk, and I’ll give you the IBAN for the Collingwood Society. Make sure that you pick the “our cost” option when transferring any money, though, which means that you’ll carry all fees!

I’m leaving you with this exciting news, and wish you all a Merry Christmas, Blessed Yule and a very happy and healthy New Year!

“Goodwill and Peace to all Mankind!”And women, children and animals. And Admirals.
And Velociraptors. Because everything is better with dinosaurs!

“Collingwood 2010” may be over, but interest in the life and achievements of Vice-Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood has only increased. Excellent! The fewer “Colling- who?”, the better. I can promise you some interesting finds regarding our dear admiral for 2011, so please, stay tuned!

And now for some really exciting news: there are talks about the formation of a Collingwood Society! I think we can all agree on a very loud “AYE!” here, but there’s something each of you can do to contribute to this cause:

Please e-mail your views and ideas regarding the formation of a Collingwood Society on this temporary address:

collingwoodsociety at yahoo.co.uk

Your mail will go to the people behind “Collingwood 2010”.

I’m absolutely in favour of a Collingwood Society (big surprise there). While Collingwood’s military achievements were outstanding and changed the course of history, I still feel that the fact that he was a decent, honourable man in a time which was neither nor is just (and to me, even more) important. Because it’s decent and honourable people we need today as role models. Because the Gods know, we got far too many of them.

So please, do write, do share your thoughts and spread the word!

Thank you.

And as I’m already thanking – thanks a ton to Nana for giving Old Cuddy a Bounce for Christmas!

As you can tell, he’s very happy about it – for his personal taste, this household has far too many cats!

And I received the report of this artwork just in time, having read and reviewed yet another book which managed to reduce Collingwood’s career and achievements down to three sentences. I really don’t think “Collingwood rushed into battle too fast” does the man justice, and it’s not like giving Collingwood credit where credit is due would diminish Nelson’s achievements.Yes, I’m looking at you, Brian Lavery and Dan Snow.

Anyway, Nana shares her home with the most fantastic Admiral Collingwood doll, and it would be a crime not to share her report and pictures with you! “Beating Nelsonmania, one souvenir at a time…” ;-)

Just click the link or the picture below to get to The Nanascript and read all about it. As you can tell from the many pictures, Mini-Collingwood comes with letters, washingstand and – Bounce!

Please also have a look at the artist’s website here (warning for those at work: automatic background music on the start page). I’m absolutely in love with the German 1950ies kitchen and Oberon’s Secretary (and Grim Reaper Rat, but that goes without saying!)

Admin. note: WordPress is playing up; if some articles on this blog don’t seem to load, or you should get a “missing page” error and feeds shouldn’t load, I’m very sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong, I only know it’s nothing I could fix on my part. Thanks for your understanding.

I haven’t decided yet what to do on 1st May: wearing red and marching on the street, or wearing white and dancing around the May Pole (knowing myself, I’ll probably end up sitting under a tree, reading a book). But there’s a third option this year:

Saturday, 1st May, and Sunday, 2nd May, 2010, at the Newcastle Arts Centre and the Newcastle upon Tyne Trinity House.

A two-day workshop at the North-East Centre for Lifelong Learning, tutored by acknowledged experts Max Adams, Tony Barrow and John Sadler, celebrating the bicentenary of Collingwood’s death on March 7th 1810

The workshop costs £ 55.00 (£ 35.00 if you’re a NECLL member), which includes lunch and refreshments. I dare say this will be money well spent; several interesting talks, a look at Admiral Collingwood’s letters, muster books and a rare look around Trinity House. Plus “re-enactments of actions” (tempting as it may be: please stay away from the cannons and don’t blow anything up!)

Still working my way through the mailbox. I’ll eventually reply to everybody, thanks for your patience.

More links are trickling in. I hope I can apply my google-fu more effectively this weekend, I’m sure there’s more. If you’ve been to any of the last weekend’s events and want to share your thoughts, impressions and/or pictures, please do so! You’re more than welcome. I’d also like to thank all the regulars here who helped me so much with their comments and links.

… flowers were laid at Admiral Lord Collingwood’s tomb, which can be found in the crypt of St. Paul’s cathedral. Pictures were taken with permission of St. Paul’s and are used here with permission of the photographers.

We’d like to thank staff at St. Paul’s for their help and hope to make this a (bi-)annual event. While Admiral Lord Collingwood probably would have shaken his head about the general idea of fuss being made about him, we feel it’s very important to keep his memory and the values he stood for alive.

Tourists made a beeline for the admiral’s tomb as soon as they noticed the flowers. “London Guides” were pulled out and consulted in considerable numbers!

Also, donations to various charities have been made in honour of “Old Cuddy”.

On the morning of the 7th there was a considerable swell, and his friend Captain Thomas, on entering his cabin, observed that he feared the motion of the vessel disturbed him. “No, Thomas,” he replied, “I am now in a state in which nothing in this world can disturb me more. I am dying; and I am sure it must be consolatory to you, and all who love me, to see how comfortably I am coming to my end.”